Japanese word

寄生

Pronunciation

Romajikisei

Meaning

  • nounparasitism

Example

この虫は他の生物に寄生します。ko no mushi wa ta no sei butsu ni ki sei shi ma su

This insect lives as a parasite on other organisms.

Illustration for 寄生 (parasitism)

More examples

この植物は寄生によって栄養を補います。ko no shoku butsu wa ki sei ni yo tte ei yō o ogina i ma su

This plant obtains nutrients through parasitism.

Core concept

Describes a way of living in which one organism gains resources from another while the host is harmed.

Common phrases

  • 宿主への寄生shuku shu e no ki sei

    parasitism on a host

  • 寄生による被害ki sei ni yo ru hi gai

    damage caused by parasitism

  • 寄生の仕組みki sei no shi ku mi

    mechanism of parasitism

Similar words

寄食kishoku: A way of living by receiving food or support from another person or organism.

Definition in Japanese

他の生物に取り付き、その生物から養分などを得て生活すること。hoka no sei butsu ni to ri tsu ki so no sei butsu ka ra yō bun na do o e te sei katsu su ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 寄生 (kisei, "parasitism") combines 寄 (ki, "to draw near or depend on") and 生 (sei, "to live"), expressing life sustained through another organism.

Usage tips

  • In English, parasitism is normally an uncountable noun, whereas parasite refers to the organism and parasitic describes its behavior or relationship.

Related words

  • 寄生的kiseitekiparasiticna-adjective
  • 寄生性kiseiseiparasitic naturenoun
  • 寄生者kiseishaparasitenoun

Word lists with this word